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© Copyright 1997 ATP Inc. All rights reserved. Do not copy without written permission of ATP Inc.
Advanced Transportation Products, Inc.
400 Terry Ave. N — Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 467-0231 fax (206) 4670-175
T A N D E M
Owner'sManual
Models VR82
VR85
DOUBLE
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Kickstand
I hate always looking for a tree or wall to lean my VISION
against. We recommend the Cannondale CODA kickstand for
your bike - it fits the oversized VISION rear chainstay like a
glove, and has an adjustable height that makes balancing the bike
a snap.
There is another technique for standing the VISION that can be
used if you don’t have a rack or fenders. Simply flip the bike
on its back and let it rest on the rear wheel and the seat back
Note - this technique will not work on long wheelbase VISIONs!
Fairing
Advanced Transportation Products has available for your VISION a clear lexan plastic
fairing. It mounts to any VISION on the front derailleur tube and waterbottle mounts,
and includes a light mount bar and two waterbottle braze-on positions. There is about a
10% - 15% reduction in aerodynamic drag with the
fairing, but the real advantage of the fairing is the
weather protection it offers. Riding in cold and wet
weather is a joy in
comparison to an
unfaired bike, and
there is an optional
“Poncho” available
that will keep all the
wet stuff off your
body. A must for
year-round commuting.
T-Shirts
Declare to the world that you are a VISION owner -
has the VISION logo embroidered over the left breast. Available in Large and XL.
QA80 Tandem quick Boom / frame Adjuster kit
The VISION Tandem Quick Adjuster allows you to set the boom and frame length for
different size VISION riders, without cutting the chain each time - it makes demo rides
and switching the captain and stoker a snap!
Advanced Transportation Products, Inc.
400 Terry Ave. N — Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 467-0231 fax (206) 467-0175
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Read me First! ................................................................... 3
Quick Information ................................................................................5
Tire & Wheel information............................................................................. 5
Torque specifications ..................................................................................... 5
Chain .............................................................................................................. 5
Serial number location .................................................................................. 5
The Advanced Transportation Products Inc. Warranty.................... 5
Chapter 2: Assembly and Set-up.........................................................8
Unpacking the Double VISION .................................................................... 8
The Double VISION main frame.................................................................. 8
The Front Boom............................................................................................. 9
The Front Wheel ............................................................................................ 9
The Handlebar ............................................................................................... 9
Routing the rear brake and derailleur cables ............................................ 1 0
The VISION Seat ......................................................................................... 10
Leg length / The Chain................................................................................ 11
Installing the Rear chain............................................................................. 13
Installing the Front (timing) chain............................................................. 13
Front chain tensioner installation ...................................................... 14
Trading places between the Captain and Stoker........................................ 15
Adjusting the derailleurs ............................................................................. 1 5
Front Derailleur ................................................................................... 15
Rear Derailleur .................................................................................... 15
Attaching the front brake cable .................................................................. 16
Final Inspection ........................................................................................... 16
Chapter 3: Riding your Double VISION.........................................17
Chapter 4: Customize your VISION................................................22
Pedals/Toeclips ............................................................................................. 22
Seat Back Bag .............................................................................................. 23
Rear Rack / Panniers................................................................................... 23
Fenders ......................................................................................................... 23
Kickstand ......................................................................................................24
Fairing .......................................................................................................... 24
QA80 Tandem quick Boom / frame Adjuster kit........................................ 2 4
Part number VR8-500 4/9/96
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Rear Fender
Seat Back Bag
Seat Back Bag
Advanced Transportation Products has
designed a custom bag to sit on your seat
back. It has approx. 800 cubic inches of
storage capacity in two sections: a main
storage compartment with flap, and a
zippered pouch on the main flap for wallet, keys, etc. The main section features
two pockets, handy for tools, powerbars,
etc. The bag slips over the back of your
VISION seat, and straps around the seat crossbar. Off the bike it features a comfortable
shoulder strap. The bag is ideal as a day bag, or a touring companion bag for carrying
valuable items. Fits on both the Captain's and Stoker's seats.
Rear Rack / Panniers
Your VISION is equipped from the
factory with mounting positions for
a standard mountain bike type rear
rack, allowing you to use any standard pannier set for touring/commuting.
Fenders
For wet weather riding your VISION will
accept fenders. W e make a matched 20"/
26" set: the "FEN80", available from you
local bike shop.
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Thank you for choosing a Double VISION T andem Recumbent! We here at
Advanced Transportation Products have
tried to build for you the most advanced,
full featured tandem recumbent available.
Please take a few moments now to fill out
your warranty registration card - we want
to know what you think about your new
bike.
Before we explore your new VISION's features, we would like to take a few moments
to discuss some important points about recumbents and bike riding in general:
Always wear an ANSI or Snell approved helmet -- Yes, with their lower
center of gravity and feet-first position, recumbents are significantly safer than upright
bicycles. You still need to protect your most valuable body part. Modern bicycle helmets are light, cool, and offer lifesaving protection.
Check your bike carefully before each ride -- Spend a few moments
before each ride inspecting your VISION for problems.
*Check all the nuts, bolts and other fasteners to make sure none are loose.
*The tires should be inflated to the pressure moulded on the sidewall, and free
of cuts or imperfections.
*The wheel quick release skewers should be clamped shut with at least 20 lbs
(14kgf) of force, and a sharp blow to the top of the tire should not knock the wheel
loose. Study the wheel / seat skewer operation diagram - the skewer handle has a curve
Chapter 1: Read me First!
Open
Closed
Close here with
20 - 45 lbs force
Rotate here to
tighten/loosen
Wheel / Seat Skewer Operation
Skewer Handle
Skewer Nut
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Chapter 4: Customize your VISION
Now that you are comfortable riding your new VISION, I’m sure that you will want to
customize it for your particular riding needs. Your VISION recumbent has been designed to accept a full range of standard bicycling accessories, as well as some custom
items that have been designed by ATP.
Cateye Fashion Mirror
If you ride in traffic, a mirror is a must. Options include a helmet mounted mirror or
the Cateye Fashion bar mounted mirror. For above-bar VISION riders, the Cateye works
well, as well as any good bar-end mountain bike mirror.
Computer
Virtually any small bicycle computer will
fit on your VISION. We recommend that
you mount the computer on the handlebars, although make sure that on underbar
steering models the computer doesn’t interfere with the seat frame as you turn the
handlebars from side to side. Most computer instruction manuals won’t give a
calibration number for a 20” front wheel,
so you must calculate it. Generally the
computers are looking for the wheel diameter or circumference in millimeters;
for the 20” front wheel the circumference is 1430mm and the diameter 455mm. On
my Vetta C-15 computer, for example, my calibration number
is 1430.
Water bottles
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water! There are braze-ons in
the front VISION frame for a waterbottle cage. In addition, you
can carry waterbottle in the seat back with “cup caddy” type
waterbottle holders. Our day bag has an optional water bladder
available.
Pedals/Toeclips
Your VISION will accept all standard pedaling systems. Clipless pedals such as the
SPD and LOOK work extremely well on recumbents - just remove your original pedals
and screw in the new (the left pedal is left-hand thread). Toeclips are also recommended - practice getting in/out of them a while before hitting the streets. One technique for entering toeclips is to “flip” the toeclip forward with your toe so that it swings
around onto your foot. After a while it becomes second nature!
Computer and Mirror
Cup Caddy
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in it that will face the tire when properly closed. Open the skewer handle, tighten the
skewer nut slightly, then close the skewer handle ( curve facing toward the wheel). It
should take 20-45 lbs of force to close the handle as shown, and the skewer should
emboss the metal of the wheel dropout.
* The wheels should be straight and not wobble.
*Squeeze each brake lever to make sure there is no binding and the brake pads
press hard enough on the rims to stop the bike. The brake pads should be adjusted so
they are 1/16" (2mm) away from the rim when not applied. The brake pads should be
centered on the rim and not touching the tire itself.
*The seat quick release skewers should be closed with at least 20 lbs (14kgf)
of force (see the skewer diagram).
*Sitting on the bike, swing the handlebars from side to side checking for binding or interference. Check to make sure the stem bolt is tight. The handlebars should
not rotate in either direction when 60 lbs of force is applied to a grip.
*Check the tightness of the boom and main frame pinch bolts, and make sure
the frame anti-rotation bolt is installed. Do not ride a Double VISION without the
frame anti-rotation bolt! (See Chapter 2).
*If you are unsure of the condition of your VISION recumbent, Do Not Ride
It until the problem has been corrected. If you have any questions at all, see your
VISION dealer.
Wear gloves -- with its low center of gravity, you don't fall very far on a
recumbent, but you will touch down with your hand first! A set of bicycling gloves will
protect your skin.
Wear eye protection Riding down the road at speed is no time to get a bug or
dirt stuck in your eye! Goggles, glasses or both will save your sight and protect against
a crash.
Practice riding your VISION -- before you mix it up with traffic, spend
enough time on your recumbent on a parking lot, driveway or other open area to get
used to its unique riding position. W e also recommend that a new Captain ride the VISION Tandem solo for a while before adding the Stoker. Chapter 3 has some important
information about riding your VISION.
Never ride at night without a front and rear light!
Experiment with different seat positions, seat angles, and boom lengths dur-
ing your practice period -- Your VISION recumbent has many adjustments and special
features that fit the bike to you. Try them all!
Be careful when riding in wet conditions- No brakes, whatever their
design, work as effectively in wet weather as they do in dry. Stopping distances and
brake lever pressures all will increase.
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but shifts slower and is more prone to pressure-induced miss-shifts. The rear derailler
(controlled by your right hand control) operates over a range of seven or eight gears,
shifts faster and cleaner when you need it, but each shift is a smaller “jump”. The most
important thing to remember is to practice shifting back to a nice starting gear BEFORE you come to a stop. Try to start the bike in a high gear (like starting your car in
fourth) and you will see why it’s so important to remember to shift back to your favorite start gear. With a little practice, you will know what gear you want for different
condition starts (uphill, level terrain, etc.) and be able to quickly dial in that gear.
Now it’s time to add your partner. While everyone will probably find their own favorite
method of mounting and starting the bike, we’ve found a favorite technique. The captain
holds the bike and allows the stoker to mount. When comfortable, the stoker supports
the bike and allow the captain to mount and clip into the pedals. Once the captain is
ready, they signal their intention to ride, and start pedaling away. The stoker then lifts
their legs and clips into the pedals. At stops, the captain signals the stoker to “prepare
to stop” and the stoker releases their feet from the pedals and gets ready to drop their
feet. When the captain brings the bike to a halt, the stoker drops their feet and supports
the bike, allowing the captain to remain in the pedals, ready to accelerate away. If the
stoker is much lighter than the captain, you might be better off reversing this procedure, but it is so easy to support the Double Vision from the stoker’s position that this
method is usually the most comfortable. If your bike is equipped with the I.P.S., then it
is even easier to start and stop; the stoker’s and captain’s cranks are independent of
each other, so one won’t be spinning madly with the other.
It’s important for the captain and the stoker to understand their own responsibilities to
the other. The captain should always advise their stoker of starting and stopping intentions, warn of potholes or bumps, and in general keep their stoker informed of their
plans. The stoker should acknowledge all communications with the captain, and try to
sit still without a lot of moving about. It’s OK to turn your
head and look at the scenery,
just try to not shift your upper
body about, and keep all your
movements smooth and predictable. You shouldn’t feel
like you have to do everything
in one session. Many novice
riders actually do much better
working up to the open road in
several short training sessions,
often days apart.
With some practice, the captain and the stoker become a team, involved in the joy of
cycling together. Enjoy your bike, and have a world of fun with it!
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Keep your pedal cadence high - You can overstress your knees with the
tremendous leverage you have on a recumbent. We recommend that you pedal in the
80-90 RPM range. If you experience knee pain, spin faster and check your leg length
setting. It is probably too short - see Chapter 2 for leg length adjustment. You might
also change your seat back angle.
Communicate -- The key to successful tandem riding is teamwork between
the captain and the stoker. Captains - tell your stoker when you are shifting, stopping,
and if there are any bumps coming. Stokers - become part of the bike; don't make
sudden movements that startle your Captain. One of the best parts of tandem riding is
being able to talk to each other -- Do it!
Quick Information
Tire & Wheel information
Rear: 559 bead seat diameter, 1.5" - 2.25" wide (ex. 26 x 1.5)
Front: 406mm bead seat dia, 1.5" - 2.0" wide (ex 20 x 1.5)
Inflation pressures: Inflate to the pressure moulded on tire sidewall
Wheel dish: Rear wheels are built without traditional dishing, call for
exact specs.
Torque specifications
Front Pinch bolts: 45 in-lbs (5N-M)
Frame Pinch bolts: 65 in-lbs (6N-M)
Pinch bolt type: 6mm x 1mm -- 25mm long
Handlebar Stem bolt: 65 in-lbs (6 N-M)
Chain
240 links captain to stoker (maximum length rider)
238 links stoker to rear wheel (maximum length rider)
Serial number location
On back plate of rear main frame, facing the rear wheel
The Advanced Transportation Products Inc. Warranty
Advanced Transportation Products Inc. warrants each new VISION bicycle frame, fork, and seat
frame against defects in workmanship and materials for the lifetime of the original owner. Paint and decals,
seat fabric, and all original parts, are warranted for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This
warranty is expresssly limited to the repair or replacement of a defective frame, fork, seat or defective parts
and is the sole remedy of the warranty. This warranty applies to the original owner and is not transferable.
Claims under this warranty are to be made through an authorized VISION dealer. Proof of purchase is required. A W arranty Registration Card must be completed and received by Advanced T ransportation Products Inc. before warranty claims may be processed.
The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper assembly or maintenance, or installation of parts or accessories not originally intended or compatible with the bicycle as sold.
The warranty does not apply to damage or failure due to accident, abuse or neglect.
Advanced Transportation Products Inc. shall not be responsible for incidental or consequential
damages. Labor charges for part changeovers is not covered by this warranty. The user assumes the risk of
any personal injury or damage to the bicycle or other losses if the bicycle is used in any competitive event
including but not limited to bicycle racing, triathalons, or similar activities.
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manual—it’s important to be able to actually look around behind you. This not only
gives you options on checking out traffic, but practicing this will increase your skills
and confidence on the bike.
At this point you should be feeling pretty good about life, zooming along nice and
comfortable, relaxed and thinking about
how much fun you are going to have on
this thing. Well don’t get too cocky yet.
Before you hit the open road there are a
some more exercises you should do.
Practice circling, both to the right and to
the left. Start out with gentle curves, and
progress to tighter and tighter radius “U”
turns. Y ou should really try to master turning slowly in as tight a curve as possible
quite a few times, this gets you ready for
the real world of poor directions and detours. If you find yourself wobbling or
jerking the handlebars around, you are
probably too tense. Relax, let your hands grasp the bars in a light but firm manner. Let
your shoulders droop, relax your neck, don’t “death-clench” your teeth. Once you relax
you will have more control over the bike.
Next, you should practice using the brakes. Stop and take off a few times, getting a feel
for how much pressure on the lever it takes to slow down or stop the bike. Remember
to always use both brakes together, with gentle pressure at first to stop the bike smoothly .
Drop both your feet to the pavement while giving the brakes the final squeeze to stop
the bike. Lean forward a bit and stand up, while reaching behind you for the seat frame
to steady the bike. Practice stopping and dismounting, then starting off again. You should
also practice stopping by dropping only one leg, typically your non-dominant leg. This
exercise will help you deal with momentary stops, such as at stop signs and traffic
lights. It does take a little practice to balance the bike leaning onto a single leg. Remember to keep one hand clamped on a brake to prevent the bike from rolling, it really
helps. I usually immediately cock my “crank-bound” leg for the start, and then hold
pressure against the brake until I’m ready to go. You should also carefully investigate
what happens to the bike with gradually increasing brake lever pressure, so you will be
comfortable with quick decisions on the road.
Don’t fall asleep on me yet, we’re almost done. The last thing you should practice
before hitting the open road is your shifting. You really need to be work on being aware
of how the gears work. While the modern shifting systems work wonderfully, it’s best
to only shift with a light load on the pedals. That is, you should ease up on the pedaling
pressure before you shift. This does take some practice, typically you only think to
shift when it’s almost too late; like when you’re right in the middle of a monster hill.
Try to anticipate what gear you will need , and when. T ypically , the front derailluer (your
left handlebar control) with it’s three positions controls a bigger “jump” in the gearing,
Foot Starting Position
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Anatomy of a
Stoker's Seat
Front D
Captain's
Captain's Rear
Frame Anti-rotate Nuts
(Anti-Rotate Bolt goes in one o
Stoker's Handgrip
Frame Pinch Bolts
Rear Idler
Rear Frame
Rear Derailleur
Stoker's Rear Seat Skewer
Stoker's Seat Stay
Derailleur Cage
Freewheel
Rear Chain
Rear Wheel
R
ear Dropout
Bottom View
Rear Main Frame
Slot in Rear Main Frame
Anti-rotate nut on front frame (one of four)
Pinch bolt binders
Anti-rotate Bolt in Front Main frame nut
Front Main Frame
Main Frame Joint detail - Anti-Rotate Bolt installation
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front wheel from side to side. Squeeze the brake levers. Yodel a few times. Do whatever it takes to relax. Many first time riders try to sit forward on the seat, not being
used to the relaxed, laid back position. Sit back! Enjoy the comfort!
Now pick a dominant leg. For most people this is your right leg, but go with whatever is
most comfortable for you. Pick your leg up and swing the crank arm around so you can
easily reach the pedal. If you are using toe straps, flip the pedal clip over your foot, but
keep the strap nice and loose to start with. Swing the crank around until your foot is in
a “cocked” position; somewhere close to the top of the pedal stroke. This spot is different for everyone, the key is to find the spot where you feel best about putting a lot
of power into the pedal. It helps to hold the bike from rolling with either brake. When
you’re ready, release the brake, and push forward firmly on the pedal. As you start
moving, lift your other foot up and keep
peddling. At first you probably will
wobble a little, but don’t panic and tense
up! Just relax and concentrate on making
small corrections with the handlebars. The
most common beginners’ error is to overcontrol the bike, ending up steering a set
of “S” curves down the lane. If you relax
and let your hands sit lightly on the handlebars, you will find it easier to avoid this
syndrome. Lean back! You are probably
trying to lean forward, to mimic that
“other” type bike you’ve been riding. Another common first time mistake is to
stare at your feet — after all, you’ve never
seen them before! Look ahead, see the
scenery you’ve been missing.
Once you’re riding smoothly in a straight
line, it’s time to practice looking around.
Now don’t laugh, I’m not being funny nor
condescending. Compared to a traditional
bike you will find yourself looking at the
world from a whole new perspective, a
comfortable one. The biggest problem you
will face is keeping your mind on the road. Since you are riding in a relaxing reclined
position it’s all too easy to forget about everything except the scenery in front of you.
Looking behind you is not difficult, but it does take practice. As you ride in a straight
line—and are sure you’re not about to take a long ride on a short pier—practice swinging your head to the left and right, taking quick glances behind you. The first time you
do this you will inevitably shift your weight and hand position, causing the bike to
swerve. Don’t panic, this is why we are practicing in the park instead of a congested
street. While many riders like to use a helmet or bicycle mounted mirror—and we sell
a beautiful unit that mounts onto the handlebar, see the accessories section of this
Dismounting
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Double
View from front
of bike
Front
Brake
Cabling
Rim
Right
brake
caliper
Front brake cable
housing
Power
hanger
Brake cable
clamp
Front Crank/IPS
Headset
Gripshift Shifter
Brake Handle
Handlebar Pinch Bolt
Front Fork
Front Dropout
Front Wheel
Handlebar
Front (Timing) Chain
Captain's Seat
Front Idler
Front Frame
Rear Crank / IPS
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here is to spend some relaxed time getting to know your bike before you get 20 miles
into nowhere, or involved with city traffic. Pack a lunch and head for the park, relax and
enjoy the day for a bit, and then set yourself up to ride in the parking lot, or any open
space with no traffic.
Before you start to ride, look at your gears and make sure that you are set in a good gear
to start in. On a flat surface this usually is in the middle chainring (up front) and in one
of the three largest cogs (on the back). If the bike is not in one of these gears, have
someone hold the rear wheel off the ground so you can spin the cranks and shift the
gears. Don’t forget that you should only shift when pedaling! As you gain experience
you will find yourself thinking ahead and shifting into your favorite “start-up” gear
before you come to a stop. Your VISION’s gears are shifted with “Rapid Fire” type
shifters - they’re right under your hands, on the forward part of the handlebar grips. You
don’t have to take your hands off the handlebar at all to shift - just toggle teh lever with
your thumb and forefinger.
Now let’s get on the bike. I tend to always mount from the left, like on a horse, but the
important thing is to establish a pattern and do it the same way every time so it becomes
a habit. Starting on the left side, hold the seat back with
your right hand. Standing in front of the handlebar and
facing the bike, swing your
right leg over the front boom.
You are now looking forward, straddling the bike.
Now reach down and grab the handlebar grips, apply
the brakes, and sit down. Settle yourself into the seat
and get comfortable, remember, let’s try this alone
for the first couple of rides. The Double Vision rides beautifully with only a captain,
and you can spend some time getting comfortable with the bike without having to worry
about what the stoker is doing.
Sit awhile, rock back and forth and from side to side. Notice how the seat cradles you,
and how comfortably close to the ground you are. Grasp the handlebars and rock the
Mounting - Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
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Chapter 2: Assembly and Set-up
Your VISION dealer should have put your tandem together and set the adjustments for
you. We don't recommend riding your VISION at all until the following procedures
have been accomplished or checked by a qualified bicycle mechanic. We will review
the assembly instructions here, and also point out some areas that need continuing
inspection. Refer to the "Anatomy of a VISION" section for part names and locations.
Unpacking the Double VISION
Y our VISION recumbent comes shipped from the factory in two large cardboard boxes.
These boxes are UPS shippable - in fact, you may want to keep them around in case you
ever want to ship your bike or take it on the airlines. Remove your VISION from the
boxes.
The Double VISION main frame
The bike comes packed with all components installed except the front boom, pedals
and the chains. The main frame comes in two parts - start by sliding the rear frame
section into the front frame section. Do not grease the rear frame! The frame main
tube is made out of stainless steel -- it will not rust under normal use. You can align the
two frame halves by lining up the scribed line on the rear frame with the notch in the
front frame.
The rear frame also has a slot on the underside of the slider section - there must be a
frame anti-rotate bolt installed in the anti-rotate nut that is over this slot! There
are four anti-rotate bolt positions on the front section of the main frame. Only one
bolt position is used at a time - if the rear frame is inserted all the way in the front
frame to approx. one inch out, the rear frame slot will be aligned with the forward most
anti-rotate bolt position. If the rear frame is from approx. one inch to four inches
extended, the slot will align with the second nut on the front frame. Approximately
Main frame anti-rotate bolt installation
Frame Anti-rotate Nuts
(Anti-Rotate Bolt goes in one of them)
Frame Pinch Bolts
Rear Main Frame
Front Main Frame
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Chapter 3: Riding your Double VISION
Riding a V ision recumbent tandem is no more difficult than riding a traditional diamond
frame tandem, or a single rider recumbent. If you are new to cycling, you’ll find it easy
to learn to ride on a Vision. If you are an experienced rider, you’ll have to learn some
new habits, but the benefits of riding a recumbent far outweigh the small learning curve
involved. Either way, it’s important to spend a little time adjusting to your new bike
before riding in traffic or committing to a long ride. In this chapter I’m going to discuss
some things that will make the transition to recumbents, or learning to ride on a recumbent, easier. We recommend that the captain take the Double Vision out solo for the
first few rides, to get adjusted to the handling characteristics of the bike.
First of all, be sure to read
the previous chapter about
set up of the bike. To ride
well you have to be comfortable, and to be comfortable you need to be sure that
your Vision is adjusted to
fit you properly. The seat
angle is adjustable, and really affects how you feel on
the bike. If you’re just starting out with recumbents
you will probably want to
set the seat as upright as
possible. Later you can recline the seat incrementally until you find your own ideal
position.
If you’re comfortable on your bike, it’s time to go riding. First and foremost, the most
important part of riding any bike is to wear proper safety equipment. We discussed
safety equipment in Chapter 1, but I will repeat it here. It is essential to wear a helmet,
all the time, anytime you ride. It’s also very important to wear gloves when you ride. If
you do have an accident and fall over, you’ll probably catch yourself with your hands, so
save your palms and wear gloves. You should also wear protective eyewear; road grit
and flying insects do not make for happy eyes. Wearing cycling shoes, shorts and jerseys can help you be more comfortable, but they are not as essential as the helmet,
gloves and glasses.
Now you’re all set to hop on your Vision and pedal away into the sunset, right? Wrong!
The key to riding smoothly and in a controlled fashion on any bicycle, recumbent or
not, is to be comfortable enough to relax. If you are nervous and tense, you will tend to
ride in a jerky, over-controlling fashion. Not only does this make you more uncomfortable, which leads to even worse riding, but it doesn’t look cool. So you need to approach the bike as your friend, someone you’ll enjoy spending the day with. The intent
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every three inches of extension you will have to move the anti-rotate bolt to the next
hole rearward. The rear frame is at maximum extension when the anti-rotate bolt is in
the last anti-rotate bolt position and the frame will not move backwards. Make sure the
anti-rotate bolt is properly installed by trying to rotate the rear frame with the pinch
bolts loosened - you should not be able to turn the frame more than five (5) degrees to
either side relative to the front frame.
WARNING! -Riding without the frame anti-rotate bolt can result in
the front wheel folding underneath you. A crash and serious injury could result!
Do not ride a Double VISION without the frame anti-rotate bolt installed properly!
The Front Boom
Unwrap the front boom assembly, and install it into the front of the VISION frame.
Install the pedals - the right pedal (as you sit on the bike) has a right hand thread, and the
left pedal has a left hand thread. Grease the threads before installation, then tighten
with a 15mm wrench.
The Front Wheel
Your Double VISION has been packed with the front wheel removed. Install it in the
front fork with the handle of the skewer on the left side of the tandem. Tighten the
skewer as shown in chapter one.
WARNING! Failure to tighten the front wheel skewer properly could
result in the front wheel leaving the bike. Serious injury could result!! If you
are unsure of the proper wheel skewer operation, have your dealer demonstrate
it for you!
The Handlebar
Your VISION handlebar has been installed on your bike at the factory, but
removed from the fork stem for shipment. Insert the stem all the way into
the fork tube, then level the handlebar by
sitting on the bike, turning the bars from
side to side, and checking for seat/
handlebar interference. Tighten the pinch
bolt. Adjust the fore and aft position of
the handlebars so that the handlebar grip
is parallel or angled slightly downward
from the seat frame. T o check alignment,
sit on the seat, grasp both handlebar grips
firmly, and turn the handlebar side to side
Pinch Bolt
Stem
16
If the derailleur cage is to the left of the fourth sprocket, then turn the adjustment
barrel clockwise one quarter turn. Turn the pedals by hand a few turns and then look at
the alignment again; repeat the adjustment steps until the derailleur cage is perfectly
aligned with the sprocket, and the chain shifts effortlessly between sprockets when the
shifter is moved between "clicks".
Attaching the front brake cable
Your Vision has been shipped with the front brake cable length set. If you need to
replace the cable you will have to set this length yourself. Study the front brake cabling
diagram to check that you have all the proper parts in the right order. To release the
brakes, simply pull the brake cable clamp out of the right brake caliper and pull the
brake cable housing
out of the powerhanger. T o attach the
brakes, reverse the
process. Squeeze
the brake lever a few
times to test the
brake action - There
should be 1/16"
(2mm) of clearance
between the brake
pad and the rim, the
pads should contact
the rim face
squarely, not touch
any part of the tire,
and the brake handle
should not be able to touch the handlebar grip under full braking power.
Final Inspection
Your VISION is complete! One last thing to do -- and also before each ride -- is to
inspect all the nuts and bolts on the bike, looking for any parts that may have loosened
in shipment. Check the alignment of the wheels, and inspect the brakes to make sure
the shoes contact the rims squarely and don't bind. The handlebars should be aligned
and able to turn from side to side without binding or interference. Check that the wheel
skewers are secure, and that a sharp blow on the wheel while you hold the bike off the
ground will not jar the wheel loose. See Chapter 1 for more details.
Brake cable
clamp
Power
hanger
clamp bolts
Left
brake
caliper
View from front
of bike
Wheel
rim
Front Fork
Right
brake
caliper
Front brake cable
housing
Front Brake Cabling Details
Page 10
10
Step 1. Looking at the front of the seat, with
the seat fabric laying on the seat frame, take the
thin strap and loop it around the frame cross-
piece.
Step 2. Loop the strap in front of the small
stub tube but behind the strap.
Step 3. Loop the strap back around the seat
frame crosspiece and strap through the ladder
buckle.
Front Tension Strap attachment
- there should be no interference between the seat frame and your arms. If there is,
rotate the grips rearward in the stem. Tighten the stem binder. The bars should be tight
enough that they will not rotate with 60lbs/27kg force on the handle, but not so tight
that they will not rotate under a sharp blow (such as laying the bicycle on its side).
Routing the rear brake and derailleur cables
The rear brake and derailleur cables have been removed from their cable stops for
shipment. Install the rear brake housing for the brake in the proper stops and re-attach
the brake straddle cable. There are two separate cable housings to install on the derailleur cable - finish by tightning the cable in the rear derailleur.
The VISION Seat
Remove the packing materials from the seat and attach the fabric to the seat back. The
bottom of the seat should be installed already - study it to use when attaching the other
panels. The following photo's and illustrations should help -- the key is to get the fabric
panels as tight as possible on the seat, and make sure you rub the velcro pieces together
over their entire area vigorously!
The seat fabric bottom section is installed at the factory, and we suggest studying the
front strap attachment carefully before removing it. In case you forget, see the front
tension strap attachment diagram. This strap should be tightened periodically.
The seat back is attached next. There are two webbing pockets on the seat fabric top
that go over the seat side rail backs - attach these first, then follow the instructions for
15
If the captain and stoker want to trade places, and their leg lengths are the same, great!
Otherwise, you must adjust the boom and frame to the proper lengths. For the Captain,
this is not a problem - the chain tensioner will allow about 3" of boom movement if the
chain is set correctly. If you will be switching stokers often, we recommend our QA80
tandem quick adjuster kit. This includes three quick release skewers (one front, two
rear) to replace your pinch bolts, and a rear adjuster idler to quickly adjust the rear
chain length.
Adjusting the derailleurs
We are almost there! The final step is to adjust the gear system.
Front Derailleur
The front derailleur is non-indexed, that is the system is set to the proper position by
the rider. The front derailleur is properly adjusted when the chain will not rub the
derailleur cage on the highest setting, and the chain will not jump off the smallest
chainring when shifted from the largest chainring down.
Rear Derailleur
The rear derailleur on your VISION is an indexed system, that is the gears shift up and
down in preset intervals corresponding to "index" clicks of your shifter. This system
requires a little patience to set up, but once it is it will give a season of proper performance.
The rear derailleur also has two
limit screws, and these must be
adjusted properly before the index system will work. Set the
shifter on the high sprocket end
of its travel and adjust the high
limit screw so that the derailleur
cage aligns with the high
sprocket. Repeat for the low
sprocket. Now with the chain on
the high (smallest) rear sprocket,
turn the pedals and shift the
shifter up three clicks. The rear
derailleur cage should align with
the fourth sprocket up from the
smallest (see illustration). If the
derailleur cage is to the right of
the proper sprocket (as seen
from the rear of the bike), turn the adjustment barrel counterclockwise on quarter turn.
Rear Index adjustment
Derailleur and cassette as seen from rear of bike
Page 11
11
the seat panel attachment.
For the first few weeks, the seat fabric will stretch a bit and appear loose. Simply
tighten the fabric as needed - the fabric will stabilize after about 100 miles or so.
Check the seat before each ride for abrasions, tears and tightness.
To install the seats on your VISION, simply insert the front of the seat frame into the
main frame attachment and tighten the skewer. Slide the rear seat frame attachment
fork into the seat stay skewer and tighten the rear seat skewer. One of the unique
features of your VISION recumbent is its adjustable seat back angle - accomplished at
the rear seat attachment. For the first
adjustment, set the rear seat back to
the middle of its range, and close the
skewer with at least 20 lbs force.
Leg length / The Chain
The trickiest part of the VISION set
up is setting the proper leg length.
Since the front boom moves in and out
to set the captain's leg length, and the
rear frame slides to set the stoker's leg
length, the chain will have to be set
Step 2. Stretch (hard!) the long flap
toward the short side pulling the inner
short flap toward the long side, and attach
together. Rub the entire attachment area
together firmly.
Step 1. Drap the seat fabric over the seat
side rails as shown
Step 3. Stretch the remaining short flap
over the other two and attach. Again rub
the entire area together firmly.
Attaching the Seat Fabric Panels to the Seat
The following are instructions for installing the upper seat fabric panel; the
other three panels attach the same way.
The view is from above the seat back.
Proper Leg Extention
14
Front chain tensioner installation
Front chain tensioner wrap adjustment
Maximum chain wrap -
Minimum chain
Ideal chain wrap
remove chain links
add chain links
Step 1 -View of chain tensioner as it hangs on
tandem. Note that the long arm of the chain
tensioner hangs down at the 6'oclock position.
Step 2 - turn the chain tensioner counter clockwise one quarter turn so the
long arm is at the 3'oclock position. Flip the spring arm behind the washer on
the long arm.
Step 4. Route the return (bottom) part
of the chain from the idler wheel to
the top of the chain tensioner. wind
the chain through the tensioner as
shown, then continue to the bottom of
the chainring
To chainring
From idler
Step 3 - Continue turning the
tensioner counter- clockwise 3/4
turn until the long arm is again in
the 6'oclock position. This will be
hard - you are turning against the
spring tension.
Front chain tensioner installation
Page 12
12
after we determine the proper boom and frame
settings for you.
Let's set the captain's leg length first. If possible,
set your Double VISION on a rear wheel type wind
trainer. If you don't have access to such a trainer,
have the stoker stand behind the captain's seat and
hold up the bike. Sit back and pedal the bike normally. When the leg length is set properly, you
will be pedaling with just a slight bend in your knee
at full extension. Take your time - this is a very
important adjustment. Most riders start out with
the boom set too short. To avoid this, start your
adjustment process with the boom out too far and
work back in.
Note: adjusting the seat back angle affects the boom length adjustment.
Check leg length adjustment after a seat back angle change.
When you are comfortable on the bike, pedaling normally, and the leg length is perfect,
get off and tighten the boom pinch bolts. Alternate tightening the bolts just one quarter
turn at a time to equalize the pressure. The bolts should be snug, but you don't overtighten. If the boom slips while riding, tighten the bolts. Start with a torque specification of 40 inch-lbs and tighten more if the boom slips under pressure.
Note: Replace the boom pinch bolts after every 10 boom adjustments to
prevent the bolt shearing off in the frame. We have available a Quick Adjuster
kit for those that need to adjust their VISION leg length often.
Now let's set the stoker's leg length. As before, either set the bike in a wind trainer, or
have the captain stand behind the stoker to hold the bike steady. Slide the rear frame in
and out of the front frame until the stoker's leg extension while pedaling matches the
picture.
The rear frame has a slot on the underside of the slider section - there must be a
frame anti-rotate bolt installed in the anti-rotate nut that is over this slot! There
are four anti-rotate bolt positions on the front section of the main frame. After you
have the frame extension set correctly, look under the frame and insert the anti-rotate
bolt into the most rearward bolt position possible. The rear frame is at maximum
extension when the anti-rotate bolt is in the last anti-rotate bolt position and the frame
will not move backwards. Make sure the anti-rotate bolt is properly installed by trying
to rotate the rear frame with the pinch bolts loosened - you should not be able to turn
the frame more than five (5) degrees to either side relative to the front frame.
WARNING! -Riding without the frame anti-rotate bolt can result in
the front wheel folding underneath you. A crash and serious injury could result!
Front Boom
Front Chain Tensioner
Chainguard Mount
Boom Pinch Bolts
Front Boom Details
13
Do not ride a Double VISION without the frame anti-rotate bolt installed properly!
To set the alignment between the front and rear frame, Align the line scribed on the rear
frame top with the notch on the front frame.
Installing the Rear chain
Your double VISION has two chains, the front (sometimes called the timing) chain and
the rear (main) chain. We have supplied you with enough chain to fit the longest riders.
More than likely you will need to shorten the chain for your leg length. To set the rear
chain length, turn the the right (rear) gear shifter to the lowest setting (biggest rear
sprocket), and the left (front) shifter to the highest setting (biggest front chainring).
Route the chain as in the chain routing diagram.
When the chain is routed, pull on both ends until the rear derailleur hanger is in the
position shown in the drawing. The two chain ends will now overlap. To set the proper
length, simply mark a link on the overlap that corresponds to one of the chain ends,
remove the excess with a chain breaking tool, then reassemble the two ends with the
same tool (if you have never used a chain break tool before, have your dealer perform
this task, or get some qualified instruction).
Installing the Front (timing) chain
The front chain has a chain tensioner in the loop to keep the timing chain tight. Take a
moment to study the chain tensioner installation diagram - go through the steps once
and make sure you understand its operation. T o install the timing chain, route as shown
and then cut the chain length so that the chain tensioner sits close to the "ideal" position
shown in the drawing. This angle is not critical, but do not let the tensioner wrap around
so the chain drags on itself. If you are going to change captain's often, set the chain
tensioner so that it is fully tensioned (minimum chain wrap) for the tallest rider.
Trading places between the Captain and Stoker
Timing chain
Rear chain
Chain tensioner
Derailleur hanger
Rear Idler
Timing chainring
Captain's chainring
Chain Routing
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